About five years ago, a tapas trend spread across Toronto. The kvetching at the time (aside from ornery crocodiles who bemoaned the absence of meat 'n' potatoes on the same plate) was that tapas is not just about small plates or about Spanish food.

Tapas is about the culture of going out for the evening, moving from joint to joint and having a little bit to eat and drink at each. Well, a culture is what we make of it, not what we take from it. Why not take the idea of a moveable feast and expand it?

Here is our suggestion for a noshing trek, with some favourite dishes at restaurants serving Canadian, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish cuisine, and the restaurants are all within reasonable walking distance of each other.

The expression "don't fill up on the bread" could be changed to "go easy on the poutine." The squeaky curds on these fries make such a high-pitched whine, you would swear Maria Callas just broke a nail. Plus they're open super late (3:30 a.m. Thursday to Saturday).

ODDFELLOWS

936 Queen St. W.

416-534-5244

Duck liver pate ($14)

Communal table makes popping in seem less intrusive. And the creamy mousse is such a large portion. But with two or three sets of hands dabbing sweet bits of bee pollen, buckwheat honey or berry and port compote onto the mousse, it will disappear in no time.

TOSHI SUSHI

565 King St. W.

416-260-8588

Foie gras nigiri ($6 each)

It's an expensive bite, but one you will remember. The mouthful of foie gras is melted over a rectangle of Koshihikari rice with a hand-held blowtorch. Close your eyes and savour the sinful moment.

ROL SAN

323 Spadina Ave.

416-977-1128

Eggplant stuffed with shrimp (three for $1.88) or

steamed char siu buns (three for $1.88)

Wedges of purple eggplant are stuffed with shrimp mousse. Barbecue pork buns are not too sweet and steamed to order. They come hot, cheap, oily and fast. Dip them in chili sauce and order another round.

TORITO

276 Augusta Ave.

416-961-7373

Patatas bravas ($10)

Sausage and potatoes

are the stalwarts of Torito's menu. But they're so much more than that. The chunks of chorizo are near bursting with the seductive cologne of smoked paprika. Along with discs of confit fingerling potatoes, they rest in a pool of pork fat-laced tomato sauce and a schmear of aioli.

HARBORD ROOM

89 Harbord St.

416-962-8989

Churros ($9)

They only bring you a few of the beautiful churros, dusted in sugar and cinnamon. But in place of melted chocolate is a bowl of coffee-flavoured custard topped with foamed milk. You don't have to dig the latte-and-doughnuts allusion to appreciate the perfect ending to a night of boozy snacking.

You can see the possibilities. So, if this has inspired you, let us know your favourites. Where else should we go and what individual dish should we add to our night? Email your suggestions to me at cmintz@thestar.ca or tweet them using the hashtag #tofoodcrawl.

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